Sewer-cleaner.



PATENTED PEB. 20, 1906.

J. M..TH0MPS0N. SEWER CLEANER. APPLICATION FILED AUG. '1. 1905.

'UNITED STATES Param Orrron.

JOHN M. THOMPSON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO .THOMAS W. ,KENNEDY AND ONE-FOURTH TO WILLlAM N. LA TOUR, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK. Y

SEWER-CLEANER.

York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sewer-Cleaners, of whichthe following is a specification. '5

v This invention relates to devices for cleaningsewers of that kindwhich are passed throu h the sewer to dislodge and remove any obstructing. accumulations, and has for its object to provide a sewer-cleaner which will effectually cut away all roots and other growth from the inside of the sewer and at the same time remove the same and all dirt and other debris which may have accumulated therein. y

Heretofore various devices have been employed for cutting the roots from the sides of the sewer; but such devices do not remove theroots and debris, and it is necessary to employ other means to clean the sewer after the root-cutter has been passed through. By

employing a device which will-both cut the roots an -remove the accumulated debris from the sewer in one operation the trouble and expense of cleaning a sewer are greatly reduced.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewer-.cleaner embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same. end view thereof. Fig. 4 is a cross-section in 'line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The device consists of an outer cutting shell or cylinder A and ari inner cutting shell or cylinder B, connected together near their ends by annular walls or cylinders and their connecting-webs C can be cast in one piece, as shown, or constructed in, any other suitable manner. The inner cylinder B is of smallerdiameter and of greater length than' the outer cylinder, and its ends 'extend in both directions beyond theends of the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder' is hollow, permitting the passage therethrough of water and other liquid 'matter which may be in the sewer.

lThe Webs C, connecting the outer and inlFig. 3 is an,

webs O. The two:

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

ner` cylinders, are substantially imperforate, .the holes formed therein in casting the device' l, being stopped by plugs Vc or other suitable ymeans. The ends of both the outer and innercylinders are notchedk to form the cuttingteeth D, vthe teeth and the notched portions of the c linders between them beingbeveled ontwar ly and sharpened to form sharp cutting edges.'v The outer cutting-cylinder A is somewhat smaller in diameter than the sewer vwhich it is intended to clean and is provided at-intervals about its circumference with longitudinallyextending shoes or runners E. These shoes are of sufficient thickness to keep the outer cylinder from coming into direct contact with the sides of the sewer and eX- tend beyondthe ends of the outer cylinder and have their ends turned inwardly, so that they will pass over any projection or obstruction which may be encountered along the sides of the sewer without catching upon the same. In the construction shown four of the glreater number of shoes may be employed',if esired. In general use, however, when a found that four of these shoes placed at equal vdistances about the circumferenc'eof the outer cylinder will be su'ficient to keep the edges of the outer cylinder from encountering the sides of the sewer; but when acleaner of small size is used in a large sewer it will be necessary to increase the number of shoes or provide some other means toprevent the outer cylinder from. striking the edges of thesewer.. The disadvantage of employing a reater number of shoes on a cylinder of sma l size is that the inwardly-turned ends of the shoes tend to encounter the accumulated debris in the sewer and impede the progress of the cleaner through the sewer instead of allowing the up the debris. To obviate this difficulty. short secondary shoes or runners e 'are provided on the circumference of the outer cylinshoes E. These secondary shoes are of the What shorter than the Outer cylinder and have their ends beveled toward the cylinder,

so asto readily ride over projectionsin the shoes areemployed; but itis obviousthat a cleaner of suitable size is employed it will 'be teeth of the cylinders to cut into and loosen der A at points equidistant between the long same thickness asl the shoes E, but are sonielIOC vsewer-pipe encountered thereby. These secjondary shoes s erve to-supplement the action l'fof the main shoes in holding the outer cylindero oi the si'desofthe sewerand at the Same, time. have rio-projecting ends `to inter- 'fere, w1th'the progress' of the cleaner.

The

` short shoes@ can be conveniently cast in-'one piece with the Icylinders' A and B, and they are'sorepresented-m the construction shown, Whlle the long` shoes E preferably consist of separate pieces riveted 01* otherwise secured to the'outer cylinder. The short shoes could, however, also be formed by separate pieces Isecured to the outer cylinder.

opposite ends of the cleaner for the attach- ,mentofthe chains or ropes by which the' .cleaner is drawn through the sewer.

vvz cleanershown the bails are pivoted to the provice more eas F representsbails or straps secured to the In the j eating ends of the inner cylinder.

HThe operation of the device is as follows:

The draft rope or chain, to which the cleaner is attached, is passed through the sewer from one manhole to the next in any usual or suitable way. The cleaner is then drawn through the sewer. The inner cylinderrst encounters the obstructing matter 4or debris in the sewer and cuts away the center thereof. The

outer cylinder then cuts away the debris about the sides of the sewer, and the web connecting the cylinders serves to hold this material which has been cut away. and force the same ahead ofthe cleaner and out of the 'they may be removed.

The inner-cylinder, being extended--A e outer cyl- I claim as my inventionnation of. a shell or cylinder provided with a cuttin edge, and a second ,cutting edge .arrange in advance of the former and disposedl inwardly therefrom, substantially as set forth.

2. In a sewer-cleaning device, the combicylinders havinglcutting end edges, substan `tially as set fort nation of inner, and outer spaced shellsor cylinders having' cutting end edges; and means between the shellsfor cylinders for preventsu stantially as set'forth.

'nation of inner and outer spaced shells or cyl# forate annular Walls or webs connecting such shells or cylinders, substantially as set forth.

5. In -'a sewer-cleaning device, .the combi'- nation of inner and outer connected shells or cylinders having cutting end edges, said inthan said outershell or cylinder, substantially as set forth.

6'. In a sewer-cleaning device, the combination of inner and outerconnectedshells or cylinders having serrated vcuttin end edges, the euttingedge of the 'inne-r cy inder bein arranged in advance of the cutting edge o 7. In a sewer-cleaning device, the combiedge, longitudinal shoes on the cylinder eX- vtending beyond the ends thereon; and anl attaching devic'gfr draft mans .connected to the cylinder, substantially autijrtli" Witness myhand this 1st day of August, 1905.

JoHN M. THOMPSON. IlVitnesses EDWARD C. HARD, A. L. MCGEE.

1.. In a sewer-cleaning device, the combination of inner and outer connected shells or 3. In a sewer-cleaning device, the combie Y 4;. In a sewer-cleaning device, the combi-v inders having cutting end edges, and imperf the outer cylinder, substantially asset Jfortl1., .8ovnation of a shell or cylinder lav'in'g a cutting in the'passage of material therethrough,

ner shell or cylinder being of greater length 

